By Aritro Dasgupta
The author is a freelance writer. aritro.dasgupta@gmail.com

Mangroves have traditionally been part of the coastal ecosystem, acting as a natural barrier against tidal waves. Studies have now established that mangroves did indeed play a crucial role in minimising damage during the December 2004 tsunami. Certainly the benefits of mangroves are manifold and they must be nurtured and conserved.

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Six years ago the islands of Andaman and Nicobar and a large part of the coastline in India were engulfed in a single stroke. The tsunami, caused havoc in all the countries situated around the epicentre, including India. Thousands of habitations were ripped apart, over two hundred thousand people lost their lives and countless were left homeless. However, on closer inspection it was revealed that the humble jungle of mangroves could have saved hundreds of lives. Traditionally various types of...